Sheet-delivery mechanism.



E. W. COOPER.

SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISIVI.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.22. |913. 1,160,264, Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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E. W. COOPER.

SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM.

APPUCATION HLED IAN. 22, 1913. 1,160,264. Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

3 SHEETS- SHEET 2.

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WITNESS E. W. COOPER.

SHEET DELIVERY mEcHANlsM.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.22| I9I3. 1,160,264. Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE ELLIS W. COOPER, OE BLOOMEIELD, NEW JERSEY, AssIc-NOE To E. HOE AND oo.,y OE NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OE NEW YORK.

SHEET-DELIVERY MEcIIANIsM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1c, 1915.

are `to be delivered flat and receive what is known as a cross-fold, the sheets have sometimes been run out from the printing machine into a set of traveling tapes which carried them against stops, the sheets being thereafter taken from the tapes by a gripper cylinder having its axis lgenerally parallel to the run of the tapes.. In this construction the tapes are constantly running and, therefore, must slip under the sheets duryingthe time that elapses between the arrival of a sheet at the stops and its removal from the tapes. As the sheets must be removed by the gripper cylinder from the constantly running tapes, there is a tendency to drag the tapes out of line which interferes with their efficient operation, and further, vwhen the printed side of the sheet is next the tapes, there is liability of smutching the sheets. Further, in such deliveries it was practically always necessary to collect the sheets before delivering them to the tapes, in order to allow time for the gripper cylinder to operate, that is, the gripper cylinder must have time to remove a Asheet or sheets from the tapes before another sheet is started along the tapes, so that the operation of such a delivery is necessarily slow.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to produce a 4delivery adapted to handle sheets flat, said construction embodyingy a sheet support, a carrier which takes the sheets flat and'delivers Vthem flat to the support, means being also provided for removing from the support the sheets deposited thereon; the construction avoiding the use of constantly'running tapes and the objections inherent therein and. being capacitated for rapid operation.

A further object of the invention is to produce a delivery for handling sheets flat which embodies a sheet support and a traveling carrier located thereover arranged to deposit sheets thereon, and means for removing the sheets from the support, the construction being` such that the sheet removing means be operated during the time a part ofthe succeeding sheet to be delivered to the support is over lthe support, the construction being especially adapted for speedy operation.

A further object of the invention is to product a delivery mechanism embodying a sheet support and a traveling carrier located over it, the construction being such as to provide for the delivery to the support of the associated sheets derived from dierent' sources, thus making it possible to deliver a product vembodying specially printed sheets. such, for instance, as vcovers or inset sheets.

TWith these and other Objects not specifically referred to in View, the invention consists in certain constructions and in certain parts, improvements and combinations as will be hereinafter fully described and then particularly pointed out.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation, Icertain parts being shown in section, of so much of a delivery mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention as is necessary to an understanding thereof. Fig. 2 is a plan View. Fig. 3 is an end elevation.

Machines embodying the invention Will include a suitable sheet support. Vhile :this support may be .varied in construction, in the particular machine illustrated, it comprises a series of longitudinal bars l supported oncross b'ars'Q. Machines embodying Ithe invention will further include a sheet carrier' for advancing the sheet flat, this carrier being arranged to move over the support. Whilethe construction of this carrier may be varied, in machines which embody the invention in its best form, the carrier will be a traveling carrier, that is, it will he constructed so as to have a continuous movement. carrier comprises a pair of chains 3 supported at one Vend by sprocket Wheels 4 mounted on studs 5 supported in the side frame of the machine. The Openings 6 in the frame through which the studs pass may be slightly elongated, as shown, so as to adjust the position of the studs and thus keep In the machine shown, the y the chains taut, the studs being held in position in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by screws 7, see dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. The chains are supported at their other end and are driven by sprockets 8 mounted on a shaft 9 journaled in the side frames. This shaft 9 is providedy with a driving gear 10 which may be in mesh with a suitable train extending fromthe press, or other source of sheet supply. The sheet oarrier will be provided with a suitable sheet seizing device. As shown, the carrier is provided with a plurality of sets of grippers 11, these grippers being mounted on shafts 12 suitably supported in blocks 13 mounted in the links of the chain. These shafts 12 have operating arms 14 carrying anti-friction ro-lls 15, as is usual in such constructions. The blocks also support rods 16 which carry the abutment 17 with which the gripper n-Y gers cooperate. The shafts 12 may also be provided' with torsion springs 18 which serve to close the grippers and holdv them closed, the grippers being opened at the proper time by a construction which will be hereinafter referred to. In order to keep the chains from whipping when the machine is run rapidly, upper and lower guides 19 may be provided between which the chains run.

The sheets may be presented to the sheet carrier by any suitable mechanism, and this mechanism will vary in accordance with the source from which the sheets to be handled bythe carrier are derived. In the particular construction illustrated, the sheets are assumed to be received from a printing machine and are forwarded therefrom by a cylinder 2O provided with the usual grippers 21. The grippers 21 deliver the sheets to grippers 22 ona transfer cylinder 23.

mounted on a shaft 24 suitably supported in the machine frame. The shaft 24 is provided with a cam 25, (see dotted lines in Fig. 1) which operates the grippers 22 to open and close them to receive the sheets and to open them again to deliver the sheets to the grippers 11 on the carrier. The grippers 11 are opened to receive the sheets, in the particular construction illustrated, by a Acam 26. This cam 26 may be provided with an extension 27 through which passes a pin 28 taking into a slot 29 formed in a bracket 30 secured to the frame. This construction allows such adjustment of the cam as is neoessary for an accurate operation of the grippers, and has the further advantage of providing a long surface with which the rolls 15 may contact, thereby insuring easy opening of the grippers when the machine is running at high speeds. After vbeing taken by one of the sets of grippers 11, the sheet is carried over the platform and isV dropped thereo-n, the grippers being operated to open and release the sheet by a cam 31V loosely mounted on one of the studs 5. This cam is y a counterpart of the cam 26, except that its position is reversed with respect to the cam 26. Suitable registering devices, such as stops 32, may be provided to insure the stopping of the sheet in proper position.

In the best constructions embodying the invention the sheet support and traveling carrier will be spaced apart sufficiently so that while a sheetr is lying on the support another sheet may be forwarded by the carrier over it without disturbing the position of the sheet on the carrier. p While this spacing might be effected in various ways, such, for instance, as properly locating the support with respect to the carrier, in the particular construction illustrated, the lower rails 19 are so located as to properly control the under run of the chains to effect this result. As the chains move forward, the grippers holding the forward edge of the sheet are caused to ride up slightly by the rails', thus insuring that the head `of a sheet held by the grippers shall not strike or interfere with the tail of the sheet already lying on the support. This feature of spacing the sheet carrier from the support is of importance because it permits the sheets to follow each other onto the support in rapid succession. By this construction a succeeding sheet may be practically in position to be dropped on the support before the preceding sheet is entirely removed from the support.

Means may be provided for Iremoving the sheet from the support. While these means may be varied in construction and arrangement, in the particular machine illustrated there is provided a gripper cylinder 34 which'seizes what may be termed the side edge of the sheet and converts itiinto a leading edge. This cylinder 34 is mounted on a shaft 35 generally parallel to the path of movement of the carrier and driven by any suitable mechanism. The cylinder 34 is provided with gripper-s 36 and where, as will usually be the case, the sheet is to be crossfolded, this cylinder will also be provided with a tuclring blade 37 operating to tuck the sheet into folding nipping jaws 38 on a cylinder 39, the cylinder 34 being intergeared through gears40 and 41, as usual in such constructions. The ordinary rolls 42 which bear upon the margins of the folded sheet and assist the folding operation` may be employed, these rolls being mounted on a shaft 43 driven by a pinion 44 from the gear 40. The particular construction of thisy type of folding mechanism is well understood in the art and a fuller description of it is unnecessary. c

It is desirable in certain classes of product that the product include a speciallyprinted sheet, such, for instance, as a cover .or inset sheet.

The construction described in which a traveling carrier is employed 1s isp .particularly adapted for Ythe hproduction of Vfeed-.board :along :which .sheets xmayabe fed, so @that .they may fbe-Lta'ken by .the Vgrippers 1l. inthe-construction illustrated, the grippers after .being .opened :by the cam .31 to receive the .sheet ame held .open amtil .they are in proper position to :take the :edgefof the sheet 4.on the feed-board,l after whichv the grippers are closed. The sheet is then for-l warded, remaining in :the .nip .ofthe-grippers until .the grippers areopened to receive the sheets from the grippers 22 on the cylinder Mea-ns,y such, for instance, as holding or propelling rolls 44, should be provided to prevent the @sheets 'from shifting during the time theV .grippers-areopening and until they take the sheets from the grippers 22. It will, of course, 'be understood that when the mechanism is so constructed as to handle specially printed sheets in the manner described, suitable sheet forwarding means, such as a cylinder 45, will be provided with which the holding or propelling rolls coperate, so that the sheets may be positively held and forwarded during the time the grippers are opening to receive the other sheets. In such cases, furthermore, a guide, as 46, should be provided to positively direct the heads of the sheets in their movement. As shown, this guide is also provided with an extension 47 which guides the sheets from the cylinder 20.

Changes and variations'may be made in the construction by which the invention claimed is carried into effect. VThe invention claimed, therefore, is not to be confined to the particular construction herein shown and described.

What I claim is l. In a delivery, the combination with sheet forwarding means, of a forwardly traveling sheet carrier for advancing the sheet flat, said carrier being provided with means for positively seizing the leading edge ofthe sheet, a sheet support over which the carrier moves and to which it delivers the sheet, and means for positively seizing an edge of the sheet after delivery and removing it from the support.

2. In a delivery, the combination with a sheet forwarding means, of a forwardly traveling sheet carrier for advancing the sheet fiat, said carrier being provided with means for positively seizing the leading edge of the sheet, a sheet support over which the carrier moves and to which it delivers the` sheet dand* remo-ving lit from ythe support;

4.5111 a delivery, the combination with a traveling carrier provided with grippers, of

a sheet Asupport over which the carrier moves, imeans for. ydelivering sheets tothe grippers on the upper Tun of the carrier, means for delivering other sheets to said grippers, the sheets being thus associated, means-for opera-ting the grippers to release the sheets and 4'deliver them to the sheet support, 'and a folding delivery provided with means for positively seizing an edge of the"v associated product and removing it from the support.

5. In a delivery, the combination with a forwardly traveling carrier provided with grippers and arranged to advance a sheet flat, of a sheet support beneath the carrier and spaced therefrom, and means for removing from the support the successive sheets deposited on the support by the carrier, said means operating to remove a sheet during the time the leading edge of the successive sheet is over the support.

6. In a delivery, the combination with a sheet support, of a traveling carrier located over the support, grippers on the carrier, means for delivering sheets to the grippers on the upper run of the carrier, cylinders for delivering other sheets to the grippers on the carrier, means for operating the grippers on the carrier to deliver the associated sheets to the support, and means for seizing an edge of the associated sheets and removing them from the support.

7. In a delivery, the combination with a sheet support, of a traveling carrier located over the support, grippers on the carrier, means for delivering sheets to` the grippers on the upper run of the carrier, cylinders for delivering other sheets to the grippers on the carrier, means for operating the grippers on the carrier to deliver the associated sheets to the support, and a folding delivery having means for seizing an edge of the associated sheets and removing them from the support.

8. YIn a delivery, the combination with a sheet support, of a traveling carrier located over the support, said carrier being provided with devices for positively seizing and forwarding a sheet, means for delivering sheets to the carrier, means for operating the seizing devices for causing the sheets to be delivered to the support, and a cylinder provided with sheet taking devices for removing vthe sheet from the support, said cylinder having its aXis generally parallel to the path of movement of the carrier.

' to deliver the sheets heldy by them tothe support, and a cylinderfhaving its axis arranged generally parallels to the movement of the carrier for taking the sheets from the support, said cylinder being provided With sheet seizing devices.

l0. In a delivery, the combination With al traveling carrier provided With sheet seizingV devices, 'of a'sheet support located under the carrier, a guide for spacing the carrier from Copies of thisv patent may be obtained for Vve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

the support, means for operating the sheet seizing devices on the carrier to cause them to deliver the sheets to the support, and means for removing the sheets from the sup# port, vsaid means being timed to operate While the leading edge of a succeeding sheet is over the support. Y Y

1l. In adelivery, the combination with a traveling carrier provided with sheet seizing devices, of a sheet support beneath the carrier, a guide for spacing the carrier from the support, a cylinder having its aXisgen-vr erally parallel to the path of movement of the support for removing from the support sheets deposited thereon by the carrier, said cylinder being timed to operate Whilethe leading edge of a succeeding sheet is over the support. n Y

In testimony whereof, I-have hereunto set my hand,innthe presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses; Y v

Y ELLIS W. COOPER;

Witnesses:

RICHARD KELLY, ARNoLnM. THJLINGHAST.

Washington, D. C. 

